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3
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and I should have proceeded without delay from this place direct, could I have disposed of Heer elbazisty's Ships on the station for that purpose. Far removed from the Scene of Action here, and without legal adviser on whom to defend the spot, yet called upon to defend Acts done judicially in the execution of my office as Her Majesty's Minister, on a plea of false imprisonment, under penalty of damages to the amount of £30,000, if the action should be sustained
I Conceive I may properly request Your Excellency to place at my disposal the services of the Nearest Law officer of the Crown. I had indeed suggested on my first coming to Japan, the necessity of making some provision to secure the Attorney General's legal Assistance and advice whenever required by the head of the mission, in like manner as has been done for Her Majesty's Minister in China.
The present contingency fully proves how essential it may be that his services should be always available; and I have accordingly written again to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to bring the subject under the notice of Her Majesty's Government, in order that steps to this end may be immediately taken. In the meantime however, I trust Your Excellency's good offices may provisionally secure the same end
I firmly believe I am not legally